Chicago Story Fest 2026

The oldest human art form is coming to the big stage. After selling out in SF, Detroit, and Philadelphia, Chicago Story Fest makes its long-awaited premiere in the city of Studs Terkel, Second City, and the blues. Tickets are now on sale. Featuring extraordinary live storytelling alongside short film and dance; live music and performance. The ways in which stories are told are as diverse as the stories themselves. From true crime to comedy, politics to poetics, Chicago Story Fest paints a portrait of the city told by those who know where to look. Award-winning journalists, including those from WBEZ Chicago, Chicago Tribune, Block Club, Borderless, the Chicago Reader, The Sun Times and more, as well as your very own neighbors alike. Come celebrate Chicago through stories that hold its grit.